Ordering of Sentences Practice Questions

5 questions per page • Detailed step-by-step solutions

Directions (Q. )

In each of the following questions, a passage consists of six sentences. The first and sixth sentences are given at the beginning and end (as S₁ and S₆). The middle four sentences have been jumbled up and labelled as P, Q, R, and S. Find the proper sequence for the four sentences.

Question 1
Medium
  1. Electric eels can generate shocks strong enough to stun their prey.
  2. The same discharges can also help the eel locate objects in murky water.
  3. Their bodies contain thousands of specialised cells that act like tiny batteries.
  4. When these cells discharge together, they create a strong electrical field around the animal.
  5. Biologists study these cells to understand how nerves and muscles generate electricity.
  6. Few animals harness electricity so effectively.
A SRPQ
B QSRP
C PQRS
D QRPS
Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

Q describes the battery-like cells, R explains the field they create, P describes how the discharge also helps sensing, and S describes the scientific study of the cells.
Question 2
Medium
  1. Cryptography protects information by converting it into a form that only authorised readers can understand.
  2. Ancient rulers used simple substitution ciphers, replacing each letter with another.
  3. Modern encryption relies on complex mathematics, making decryption practically impossible without a key.
  4. This weakness led cryptographers to develop more sophisticated systems in the twentieth century.
  5. Early ciphers were easy to break once patterns in language were identified.
  6. Secure communication today rests on mathematics rather than secrecy alone.
A SRQP
B PSRQ
C QPRS
D RQSP
Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

P describes early substitution ciphers, S explains why they were easily broken, R describes the response in the twentieth century, and Q describes modern mathematical encryption.
Question 3
Medium
  1. Snakes grow by shedding their skin in a process called ecdysis.
  2. The eyes often turn cloudy during this phase, because the fluid beneath the old skin becomes opaque.
  3. Before shedding, the old skin loosens as a new layer forms beneath it.
  4. Once the old skin peels off, it is usually removed in one piece, often turned inside out.
  5. Frequent shedding helps snakes remove parasites and worn-out scales.
  6. This renewal process keeps the snake's body healthy as it grows.
A QPRS
B RSPQ
C SPQR
D PRSQ
Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

Q describes the new layer forming beneath the old skin, P describes the cloudy eyes during this phase, R describes the removal of the old skin, and S explains the benefits of shedding.
Question 4
Medium
  1. Bees communicate the location of flowers through a movement known as the waggle dance.
  2. Other workers observe the dance closely and then fly out to find the same patch.
  3. Such precise signalling allows a colony to exploit food sources efficiently.
  4. The duration of the waggle run shows how far away the flowers are.
  5. The angle of the dance relative to the sun indicates the direction of the food source.
  6. Few animals convey so much information with movement alone.
A SRPQ
B RPSQ
C QSRP
D PQSR
Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

S describes the direction signal, R describes the distance signal, P explains how other workers respond, and Q concludes with the colony's benefit.
Question 5
Medium
  1. Vitamin D is produced by the skin when it is exposed to sunlight.
  2. Limited sun exposure, however, can lead to deficiency, especially in winter or indoors.
  3. The vitamin then travels to the liver and kidneys, where it is activated.
  4. Activated vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is vital for healthy bones.
  5. Ultraviolet B rays trigger a chemical reaction that converts a compound in the skin into vitamin D3.
  6. A balanced approach to sunlight, therefore, supports both health and safety.
A QRPS
B PSQR
C SQRP
D RPSQ
Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

S explains the chemical process in the skin, Q describes activation in the liver and kidneys, R explains the role in calcium absorption, and P introduces the risk of deficiency.